Justice Emily Miskel serves on the Fifth District Court of Appeals in Dallas. She previously served for more than seven years as presiding judge of the 470th district court in Collin County. During the pandemic, she served as Local Administrative District Judge for Collin County, guiding the court system through significant disruption while preserving continuity, order, and public confidence.
Throughout her judicial career, she has presided over complex, high-value disputes involving closely-held businesses, substantial estates, sensitive family matters, and emerging technology. These matters frequently involve significant financial interests, business valuation questions, complex property division, and reputation considerations. She brings measured judgment and steady leadership to resolving these essential disputes.
Background
Justice Miskel earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School and is double board certified in Family Law and Child Welfare Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.
She graduated with distinction from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and worked in the oil and gas industry as a project engineer before entering law. Her engineering training informs her disciplined, systems-oriented approach to complex financial structures, closely-held enterprises, business operations, and technical evidence.
Complex Matters & Technology
Throughout her career, Justice Miskel has addressed matters involving electronic evidence, digital privacy, e-discovery, interception of communications, and evolving technology. She has presided over disputes requiring careful handling of confidential information and sensitive financial records. She has written and spoken nationally on the intersection of technology and the law and has been recognized for thoughtful leadership in modernizing court processes. She held the first virtual bench trial in Texas and the first fully remote jury trial during the pandemic, initiatives requiring careful protection of constitutional safeguards, while maintaining efficiency and institutional trust.
Professional Leadership
Justice Miskel serves on the Texas Judicial Council and the Texas Supreme Court Advisory Committee. In 2020, she received the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence from the National Center for State Courts. Her work has consistently focused on clarity, procedural fairness, and principled decision-making in matters involving substantial financial and personal consequences.
Approach
Justice Miskel approaches complex matters with disciplined analysis and measured judgment. Her work reflects a commitment to clear, principled reasoning grounded in the rule of law. She understands that disputes involving significant financial interests, closely held businesses, or sensitive family dynamics require both rigor and restraint. She believes that durable outcomes depend not only on legal correctness, but on confidence in the integrity and fairness of the process by which decisions are reached.
